Chad Qualls will fill in for Luke Gregerson for a few days

May 9, 2015

Houston Astros — As we retweeted on Friday evening, Luke Gregerson has been placed on the family emergency list to deal with a private matter. Gregerson cannot return until Monday and could be out until next Friday. Chad Qualls will see the save opportunities until Gregerson comes back.

Updated hierarchy: Qualls | Neshek | Sipp.

New York Yankees — After Andrew Miller shut the Orioles down in order on his way to his 13th save, Joe Girardi reluctantly (and sarcastically) admitted that Miller is New York’s closer. The Yankee bullpen continues to be the best in baseball, with the one-two punch of Miller and Dellin Betances combining for 32 innings pitched with no earned runs, 52 strikeouts, and only 11 hits.

Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Martin.

Los Angeles Angels — As we suspected, Huston Street and Joe Smith got the night off on Friday. Although the Angels let Jared Weaver finish a 120-pitch shutout, it was Fernando Salas (not Mike Morin) warming in the bullpen for the possible vulture save.

Updated hierarchy: Street | Smith | Salas.

Colorado Rockies — Two-year-old Jameson Axford, still recovering from what his doctors called the worst rattlesnake bite they had ever seen, threw out the first pitch at Friday night’s game. Jameson has the stuff to challenge for a late-inning role in 2036, when the rest of us will all be so, so impossibly old.

Hierarchy remains: Axford | Betancourt | Logan.

San Francisco Giants — Yusmeiro Petit earned a three-inning save in a 6-0 Giants win.

Hierarchy remains: Casilla | Romo | Affeldt.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Seth Maness/Kevin Siegrist, St. Louis Cardinals — Trevor Rosenthal has now appeared on two straight days, three of four, and six of eight.
2. Pedro Strop, Chicago Cubs — Hector Rondon has thrown 52 pitches since Wednesday, including Friday’s three-run, 32-pitch debacle.
3. Tony Cingrani, Cincinnati Reds — Chicago and Cincinnati were rained out on Friday and will play a doubleheader on Saturday.
4. Zach Duke, Chicago White Sox — See above.

Weekly Hot Seat Update: May 8, 2015

We are a little over a month into the season and closers seem to be settling into their roles.  Steve Cishek has three straight scoreless appearances, recording two saves during that span.  Fernando Rodney has converted six consecutive save chances after giving up six runs in 1.1 innings in the middle of April.  Let’s take a look at the closer with the highest ERA, as well as some closers coming back from injury.

Cody Allen, Cleveland Indians — Cody Allen entered May with an ERA in the double digits, and even after yesterday’s scoreless outing, it still sits at a healthy 9.00.  Although his ERA is high, Allen has some things going for him.  He has maintained a very good strikeout rate with 15 Ks in 10 innings.  Cleveland also doesn’t have any other strong options to close games.  Bryan Shaw has not been as good as he was last year and his usage has been strange.  Manager Terry Francona likes to match up his relievers, and that has resulted in 10 of Shaw’s 14 appearances lasting less than a full inning.  Lefty Nick Hagadone has shown some flashes, but he is still too inconsistent to be considered a serious threat to Allen.  The guy who might end up challenging Allen, if he continues to struggle, started out the season in the Indians’ starting rotation.  After one bad start, Zach McAllister was moved to the bullpen and has thrived there.  Pitching coach Mickey Callaway has said that the team trusts McAllister in any situation right now, and that he could even close a game if needed.  Allen is coming off a great season, and the Indians will likely give him every chance to hold on to the closer’s job.  Still, if he doesn’t get that ERA under control, McAllister could end up getting a shot.

Jake McGee, Tampa Bay Rays — Jake McGee is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Durham on Friday, and will need a few more outings before rejoining the Rays.  Manager Kevin Cash has said that he will continue to manage his bullpen without anointing a closer.  Brad Boxberger has been excellent so far this season, recording seven saves already.  McGee should see save chances once he returns, but don’t expect him to immediately become the primary closer, as Boxberger will still very much be in the mix for saves.

Sean Doolittle, Oakland A’s — Sean Doolittle is expected back later this month after having a great bullpen session on Tuesday.  Unlike McGee, Doolittle should immediately take over as the closer when he comes back.  The A’s bullpen has really struggled, and getting Doolittle back in the closer’s role will allow them to move Tyler Clippard back to the 8th inning and Evan Scribner to the 7th.

Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers — Kenley Jansen had a tough rehab outing, but is still targeting a May 15th return.  Jansen has established himself as one of the best closers in the baseball over the past couple seasons.  Nobody from the Dodgers’ closer committee has run away with the job, and Jansen should slide right back into his normal role as closer when gets back.

Kelvin Herrera begins his suspension; Edward Mujica demoted

May 8, 2015

Kansas City Royals — Reliever Kelvin Herrera’s combined suspensions were reduced to six games, a penalty he began serving on Thursday. He’s eligible to return next Wednesday. In the meantime, Luke Hochevar returned from the disabled list after a rough rehab assignment and pitched a scoreless sixth inning against Cleveland. Comeback kid Ryan Madson pitched the seventh inning, though, so he gets the edge in our hierarchy for now, with Herrera out and Hochevar (who hasn’t pitched on two straight days all season) still working his way back. Oh, and did we mention that Greg Holland got his first save since returning from the DL? It truly was a busy night for the Royals ‘pen.

Updated hierarchy: Holland | Davis | Madson.

Boston Red Sox — The Red Sox were off Thursday, but made two significant moves in designating former setup man Edward Mujica for assignment and firing pitching coach Juan Nieves. Mujica’s departure likely means the call-up of prospect Matt Barnes, who may begin in the Boston bullpen. Barnes throws hard, which is more than you can say about most of the Red Sox pitching staff. He could enter the late-innings mix in the coming weeks.

Hierarchy remains: Uehara | Tazawa | Ogando.

St. Louis Cardinals — Jordan Walden will be out for 6 to 10 weeks with an injury to his pitching shoulder. Kevin Siegrist slides into the Cardinal hierarchy.

Updated hierarchy: Rosenthal | Maness | Siegrist.

Los Angeles Angels — Given a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning Thursday night, Angels closer Huston Street coughed it all up, surrendering three runs to take the loss against his namesake. Street allowed four singles and a walk, but the winning run came only when the speedy Jose Altuve beat out a double play that would have ended the inning.

Hierarchy remains: Street | Smith | Morin.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Mike Morin/Fernando Salas, Los Angeles Angels — After his blown save, Huston Street has pitched on three straight days (as has his lieutenant, Joe Smith). If the Angels get a save chance, we might learn whether Fernando Salas has nosed ahead of Mike Morin to be second in line.
2. Chris Hatcher, Los Angeles Dodgers — Yimi Garcia is still the top option, but Chris Hatcher recorded a save this week, proving the volatility of the situation. Rehabbing closer Kenley Jansen wants to come back next week, but Don Mattingly reigned that in a bit. For now, we’re dealing with a committee situation in LA.
3. Seth Maness, St. Louis Cardinals — Trevor Rosenthal has pitched on 5 of the last 7 days, and could be due for a night off Friday. He was called into action last night when Maness and Kevin Siegrist ran into trouble in the ninth inning of a 5-1 game.

Jake McGee in line to return to Rays this weekend

May 7, 2015

Tampa Bay Rays — Jake McGee may be ready to rejoin the team as early as this weekend, but manager Kevin Cash indicated that when McGee returns he “won’t just make him the ninth-inning guy.” This isn’t the news that anyone who stashed McGee on the DL was hoping to hear, but it is not too surprising. Brad Boxberger has been extremely effective at the top of the committee, and Kevin Cash has already signaled that he will use his best relievers in the most important spots.

Hierarchy remains: *Boxberger | Jepsen | Geltz.

Detroit Tigers — The Tigers’ bullpen continued to struggle on Wednesday; this time it was the usually solid Joba Chamberlain that took the blown save and the loss, giving up four runs in the eighth inning. Bruce Rondon is now in Detroit, and while manager Brad Ausmus refused to call it a positive step, Detroit could use the young righty to step in and stabilize their relief situation once he is deemed fit.

Hierarchy remains: Soria | Chamberlain | Gorzelanny.

Washington Nationals — According to ESPN Insider Eric Karabell, Tanner Roark may take Stephen Strasburg’s spot in the rotation if his injury requires a stint on the DL. While this isn’t official yet, Roark has been one of the most effective arms in the Nationals bullpen, picking up his first save on Tuesday. He added his third hold of the year last night, but if he ends up sticking in the rotation then look for Blake Tiernan to be the third option until Casey Janssen, who will start a rehab assignment today, returns to the roster.

Hierarchy remains: Storen | Barrett | Roark.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Tony Cingrani, Cincinnati Reds – Aroldis Chapman has pitched in back-to-back games, including a 30-pitch outing on Tuesday.
2. Zach Duke, Chicago White Sox – David Robertson has pitched in two straight and three of the last four.

Carson Smith ascending; Adam Ottavino out for the year

May 5, 2015

New York Yankees – After Chase Whitley tossed 7 innings of shutout ball, Chris Martin and Dellin Betances surrendered 3 runs between them. Martin was tagged with the loss and Betances credited with his first blown save of the year. With Andrew Miller getting some rest following a long outing last night, it is safe to say that Betances did not make the most of his chance to stake a claim to the 9th inning.

Hierarchy remains: Miller | Betances | Martin.

Los Angeles Dodgers – Chris Hatcher was tasked with holding on to the Dodgers’ two-run lead in the 8th inning, coming into the game with 2 inherited runners on base. He was ineffective, coughing up three runs and earning his third loss and first blown save of the season. Though he might still get a chance at a hold here or there, we’d be a bit surprised to see him get any more save chances before Kenley Jansen’s return.

Hierarchy remains: *Garcia | Hatcher | Baez.
* = closer-by-committee

Colorado Rockies – Confirming what many had already suspected, Adam Ottavino needs Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of 2015.

Hierarchy remains: Axford | Betancourt | Logan.

Seattle Mariners – In a bit of a surprise, Yoervis Medina was optioned to AAA over the weekend. Medina had been among the names mentioned by speculators when Fernando Rodney was struggling, but Medina had struggled with his control in recent weeks (5 BBs in his last 4.2 innings) and will attempt to straighten himself out in the minors. Fortunately for the Mariners, righty Carson Smith (0.73 ERA) has emerged as a reliable arm in the bullpen. Smith picked up his 5th hold of the season on Sunday and should be considered for save chances on nights when Fernando Rodney is unavailable.

Updated hierarchy: Rodney | Farquhar | Smith.

Oakland A’s — Ryan Cook’s early struggles got him sent back to the minors; Dan Otero is probably the best of Oakland’s remaining seventh-inning options until Sean Doolittle’s return relieves some of the pressure on the A’s pen. Otero had made late-inning appearances in five straight games before Monday night.

Updated hierarchy: Clippard | Scribner | Otero.

Washington Nationals – Tanner Roark picked up his first career save after the Nationals gave up and subsequently regained the lead late in the ballgame. Drew Storen had pitched two days in a row and three of the last four.

Updated hierarchy: Storen | Barrett | Roark.

VULTURE SAVE WATCH
1. Jonathan Broxton, Milwaukee Brewers – K-Rod has pitched in three straight.
2. Ken Giles, Philadelphia Phillies – Jonathan Papelbon has pitched in three straight.